News & Updates
Silver Dollar City Foundation’s Care For Kids Increases
Funds for Physical Needs, Launches Mentoring Programs
Released: Branson, Mo. 9/07
Following a successful first year partnering with area schools to meet the physical needs of kids, the Silver Dollar City Foundation’s Care For Kids program is adding more funds and launching in-school mentoring programs, all part of the Foundation’s half-a-million dollar commitment to kids over five years.
“In the first year of Care For Kids, we found the greatest areas of need were medical and dental emergencies, clothing and food,” said Foundation President John Baltes. “Now that we know these focused efforts make a huge difference in the lives of area kids, we are increasing the amount we give to each school district by 30 percent.”
With all 14 area school districts serving Stone and Taney county kids participating, including the addition of the Shell Knob and Spokane schools, the Foundation is gifting nearly $100,000 to the schools this year. Additionally, four Stone and Taney youth ministries will again receive funds for operational needs, bringing the total to over $130,000 given this year to meet the needs of area kids.
Care For Kids is also expanding the partnerships with the school districts to add in-school mentoring. The Foundation has been working with area churches, training volunteers to work in programs that the schools identify as important to their individual needs. So far, 120 volunteers from 52 churches have been certified through the training program, Baltes said. Six school districts have mentoring programs already in place, with more scheduled to begin soon.
Building upon the Silver Dollar City Foundation’s framework of enlisting, screening, training and certifying volunteers, Blue Eye Elementary Principal Mike Fransen designed a mentoring program that began this year with 15 volunteers. The specific goals are reducing absenteeism, providing positive role models, assisting kids who continually fall behind and, in the long term, improving Missouri Assessment Program or MAP scores, Fransen said.
Other mentoring options include “Book Buddies,” where volunteers read books with students who may need extra help or attention, and “Lunch Buddies,” where a volunteer has lunch with a student once a week.
“We started last year with the basics of physical needs - those areas that weren’t covered by existing resources and programs, such as providing coats, eyeglasses, clothing and even a wheelchair ramp for kids whose families couldn’t afford them,” Baltes said. “We found that being able to offer assistance in these small but significant ways is very gratifying for the school staff involved, comforting to the families, and best of all, these tangible acts of love really do make a difference in these kids’ lives. We expect the mentoring programs to take the next step - building relationships that support, strengthen and encourage kids.”
In addition to the funds and administrative support from the Foundation, the employees of the Silver Dollar City Attractions are involved as “champions” of specific efforts, holding fundraising projects as well as providing volunteer support, Baltes said.
“With the guidance and partnership of educators and pastors along with the help of community volunteers and the Silver Dollar City Attractions employees, we hope to have teams in place to support youth in a myriad of ways,” Baltes said. “The vision of the Silver Dollar City Foundation is that, through our collective efforts, we will Care For Kids for many years to come.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Care For Kids volunteer should call 417-336-7077, he said.
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Editor’s Note: For more information on the Care For Kids program, or for contact names within the schools or organizations, please call Silver Dollar City Publicity at (417) 338-8207, or email Martha Bohner at mbohner@silverdollarcity.com.
The Silver Dollar City Attractions are part of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation and include Branson properties of Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, Showboat Branson Belle and White Water. The Silver Dollar City Foundation, which administers Care For Kids, has been in existence for more than 10 years, providing grants to support youth and adult ministry programs, marital and parenting seminars, and helping to meet needs within Stone and Taney Counties.
The 14 school districts serving Stone and Taney County kids have Silver Dollar City as the champion property. Youth Ministries involved in Care For Kids are Young Life of Stone County, with the Showboat Branson Belle as the champion property; K-Life of Stone County and K-Life of Taney County with White Water as the champion property; and the Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch with Celebration City as the champion property.